Baseball-game apparatus



J. D. BOURNE.

BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED III/H1531. 1919.

1,353; 1,628, Patented June 1, 192'()o PL i BALL L M l, ,4L/n bases l. D. BOURNE.

BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS.

APPLlcATxoN FILED 1v1/111.31. 1919.

1,341,628. Patented J une 1, 1920.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

[NVE/V703 James D Bour/7e THNEY UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. BOURNE, OF STUTTGART, ARKANSAS.

BASEBALL-GAME APPARATUS.

narines.

Application filed March 31, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. Bouman, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stuttgart, in the county of Arkansas and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and novel Baseball-Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a base ball-game apparatus which can be made in several sizes from a toy-game device for parlors up to a large size out-ofdoor gaine device with a target and other parts in proportion to use the regulation sized base-ball bat and ball,

' for parks, Carnivals or other places.

One object of the invention is to provide a target having openings through which a base-ball can pass and strike upon the surface of a back stop arranged at the rear of the target and which back-stop is divided into sections to register with the openings in the target, and so marked as to indicate to the umpire, player or observer points and score of the game.

A further object of the invention is to provide the face of the target with data to indicate a strike, a foul, a bunt or a fly. The face of the target is also in different colors to indicate foul, strike, fly and bunt.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotatable diamond with means for removably supporting figures of the base-runners.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a base-ball trap or support from which the ball can be batted toward the target.

'lhe game can be umpired and is played exactly as the regular base-ball game. The batter requires the same skill and hazards are the same as the regulation base-ball aine.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described. and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1, is a vperspective view of the baseball game apparatus.

F ig. 2, illustrates the base-ball bat.

F ig. 3, is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920. Serial No. 286,257.

Fig. 4, is a detail of one of the ball base-runners.

In carrying out the aim of my present invention, I employ a suitable base 1, which is shown in the drawing as one section of a heavy card-board box and 2 is the cover therefor. This style of base or foundation 1 is only used for toy or parlor games, while the large indoor game, such as will be made for carnivals, fairs, stores, etc., may be the floor of a building or any special form of foundation for the support of the several parts constituting the apparatus. For a large game there would be no necessity for a cover 2, as is manifest.

A suitable back-stop 3 is supported at one end of the foundation base 1.

A suitable target 11 is supported by the foundation base 1 a suitable distance in advance of the back-stop 3. The target 4 is provided with a central home-run opening 5 which is preferably backed by a suitable hinged flap 6. 7, 8 and 9 indicate one-base hit openings and separating these openings are the strike bars 10, 11 and 12. 18 and 14 ndicate two-base hit openings, while 15 indicates a three-base hit opening and 16 a foulout opening. The lower end of the target designated 17, is a bunt board, and the upper end of the target designated 18, which is removable, is a fiy-out board. The target is also provided with the wing boards 19 which are hinged to the side edges of the target 4. The solid parts of the target 1 surrounding the one-base hit openings 7, 8 and 9 is marked to indicate a foul. The bunt-board 17 of the target is provided with an opening 2O and an inclined plane 21 is arranged behind bunt-board 17 of the target 1 to return the base-ball 22 to the front end of the apparatus after it has passed through any of the score openings in the target, as is manifest.

`he face of the back-stop 3 is provided with score data which may be read through the several openings in the target 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In the toy or parlor game the target 4L is hinged to the foundation base 1, as at 22 so that it may be folded into the base 1 a er the game is over. A suitable hinged stop member 23, in the form of a flap is employed to prevent the target from falling forward while playing a gaine.

A suitable stationary base-ball diamond 24 is supported by the base 1 and is marked to the figures of indicate home, first base, second base, and

third base.

A suitable diamond plate 25 is rotatably supported upon the diamond by means of a pin 26. Each corner of the diamond plate 25 is provided with a base plate pin 27 to pass through an opening 28 in the base 29 of the figure of the players 30 and support same at their bases.

The means for supporting the base-ball 22 to be batted by a player comprises a horseshoe shaped holder 31 open toward the target 4. The holder 31 is formed. at the upper end of a rod 32 which is bent at a right angle at its lower end and carried in a suitable bearing 33. A stop 34 is formed at one end of the ball-holding device to engage the floor 34 and support it in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1. A suitable coiled spring may be used, if desired to return the holder to its upright position after the player has batted the ball 22 with the bat 35, which operation throws the ball holder forward. A spring is hardly necessary though for a toy or parlor game-device.

rlfhe game is played as follows:

Set one of the base runners, or players, 29 on one of the pins 26 and position hinm at the home-plate. The base-ball 22 is then placed in the trap holder 3l and with" the bat 35 the player bats the ball 22 at the target 4.- l

Any number of people may play the game, on each side, batting in their turn, as is manifest. Three men out constitute an inning, then the other side goes to bat. 'Ihe I openings therein, as` shown and scores a home-run, one base hit, two basehit, three base hit or foul out or it strikes the face of the target and scores either a strike, fly out, foul, or bunt, batter out.

Should the ball not pass through one'of 'the score openings, of the target when batted, but instead strike the face of the target, the ball registers a strike, a foul, a bunt or a fly out, as represented on target. The front face of the target is preferably designed in different colors as shown in the drawings to represent a foul, a strike, flyout and bunt. Y

The many advantages of the hereinde- Y scribed invention, due to the construction shown and method of playing the game, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

While I have described the principles of the game, together with the structures of the device, I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it clearly understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that I reserve the right to make any such changes, or modifications as may fairly fall within the principle of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

Vfhat I claim is:

l. An apparatus for playing base-ball, comprising a target having a series of openings therein through which a projectile is adapted to pass, said target being inscribed with score points of the game, a back stop being inscribed with score points of the game registering with the openings of the target, and a movable diamond plate adapted to support figures of ball players and be moved in accordance with the batsmans hits to indicate their base positions. f

2. An apparatus vfor playing base-ball, comprising a target having a series of openings therein through which a projectile is adapted to pass, said target being inscribed Y with score points of the game, a back stop being inscribed with .score points of the game registering with the openings of the target, a movable diamond plate adapted to support figures of ball players and be moved in accordance with the batsmans hits ktoindicate their base positions, and means to support the ball to be batted at the target.

3. A baseball game of the class described, comprising a target having score openings therein, score points of the game inscribed upon the face of said target, a back-stop having score points of the game inscribed thereon and registering with the score openings in the target, means for supporting `figures of the players atV the bases of the diamond, said diamond being rotatable so that the figures of the players may be advancedy in accordance with the hits made by the batsman, andv means for supporting a base-ball from which it can'be batted by the players of the game toward the target with a bat. Y

4. In a game deviceV of the class described, aA back-stop inscribed with score data, a target inscribed with score data and having a series of score openings arranged iny advance of said back-stop, a rotatable base plate, four pins carried by the base plate to support miniature figures of the ball players, and a base ballV support upon a plurality of second base openings, a third base opening and a foulout opening through which a batted ball may pass, said target being inscribed with score points of the game, a baclrstop arranged a suitable distance behind the target and inscribed with score points registering With the aforesaid openings in the target, a base ball diamond having base plates inscribed thereon, a rotatable batsman supporting plate, and movable means arranged adjacent the home plate to hold a base ball to be batted toward the target by the batsman.

6. A base ball supporting means comprising a horizontally disposed arm journaled in a bearing, an upright arm integral 'therefrom and a stop to engage a floor and support the device in a substantially upright position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

JAMES D. BOURNE. 

